Punjab elections 2017: Former army chief JJ Singh likely to contest against Amarinder Singh

Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh may have a tough competition this time in the upcoming Punjab assembly polls to be held on February 4.

Former army chief General JJ Singh (Retd) is likely to contest from Patiala (Urban) Assembly constituency under the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) ticket. However, SAD is yet to make an official announcement declaring him as a candidate, according to a  The New Indian Express report.

Meanwhile, JJ Singh, who has fought 1965 and 1971 wars and played an important role in the Kargil war, has said that he is confident of taking on the challenge and win. “The candidates who fought elections against Capt Amarinder Singh earlier were weak. My track record has no failures,” the report quotes JJ Singh as saying. 

JJ Singh was recently invited to the inaugural function of the war memorial in Amritsar, Heritage Street inauguration and other events concerning ex-servicemen by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. He was also campaigning for SAD in Patiala a few days back.

Amarinder has not lost an election from the Patiala (Urban) Assembly constituency since 2002. Currently, Capt Amarinder Singh's wife and former union minister Preneet Kaur is the sitting MLA of Patiala (urban) constituency.